Progressive Presidents: Presidents Theodore Roosevelt And President Woodrow Wilson

Throughout the years, American has given birth to some of the most prominent, sagacious and influential leaders in history; leaders such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln amongst many others. This was embodied all through the early 20th and late 19th, with the presence of the progressive presidents in the oval office. President Theodore Roosevelt, President William Howard Taft and President Woodrow Wilson had diverse levels of effectiveness on reforming our nation, however they had one factor in common; they were great leaders who promoted the growth and prosperity of our country.
Theodore Roosevelt was in many ways a typical progressive politician. Raised in comfortable surroundings and educated with Christian moral values, he decided early on to pursue a professional political career. He became governor of New York in 1898, where he demonstrated progressive tendencies. Selected to run as vice president in 1900, he became president upon McKinley's assassination. Roosevelt broke a long tradition by gradually becoming an activist
Taft, however, was a deeply conservative politician and not by nature a progressive. His gradual shift toward the conservative wing of the party led progressive Republicans to organize against his leadership. Roosevelt watched the proceedings with mixed feelings. Taft was his chosen successor but had failed to live up to the mandate handed to him. Roosevelt began to reformulate his political philosophy. The New Nationalism that emerged from this process called for a federal government that had the right to regulate big business in order to ensure it acted in the public interest. As a part of his new philosophy, Theodore Roosevelt proposed several social welfare programs. When the Republicans failed to give him their presidential nomination in 1912, Roosevelt bolted the party and ran as leader of the new Progressive